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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Denver Christmas Fishes

T'was decided we should take the lil' ones to the Denver Downtown Aquarium. Turned into an expensive lil' trip that a person ain't gonna do too often. Our last time there was the first time there... I think two years ago.

I don't remember chokin' when I heard the fare that first time. Either the prices went up... or I'm getting dangerously close to bein' a grumpy old tightwad. $60 bucks for three growed up gawkers and two lil' bits seems a bit pricey to me... for what's there... Maybe I'm just stuck in the 60's. ;)

The Denver Aquarium don't match up to the Denver Zoo... or Sea World, but I did manage to collect a few pics. Photography is a bit difficult. The place is all sky lights. In the daytime there's plenty of light. We went at night for what was supposed to be a "Family Night"... not sure what that meant... there wasn't anything special goin' on or any special discounts that I noticed...

... anyhoo... at night... there isn't much in the way of illumination. I expect that the critters require some period of time when it's dark. If you try and use flash... for one I'd expect it to be pretty irritating to the fishes and such on the other side of the glass... and two, most all you'll get is a big ol' flare on the glass. Sooooo.... I was tryin' to use my "museum" and non-flash modes...

The problem there of course is it shoots kinda slllloooowwwww.... meaning a shaky old biker combined with moving fish and critters leaves little extra room for error!

After you pay the tariff you head in up this fancy escalator.

Every tourist trap needs its setup to stick your face in and have a portrait taken... right? Here's what a six foot tall one year old diver looks like...

I know some folks don't see a point in takin' the lil' ones to such places. I disagree... big time. To my mind, bringin' the kids up... with a strong attachment to and a deep respect for the land and world on which they live is just about the best foundation to start a life on.

Not to mention... it's a great treasure to have the photographs of the times we get to spend with our Kids and Grandkids.

When we're brushed up out in the desert or mountains... Hiding out there in far country, from a soh-sigh-uh-tee that an old Freedom Lovin' war horse finds increasingly difficult to hold any respect for... it's a great comfort to be able to sift through photographs of those I treasure.

Pricey or not... such a place as this is 'bout the only place I'm ever gonna see much of what they've got. Soooooo... I expect that should color my judgement of the price huh? ;)

Not sure...but I'm thinkin' such a horse as these next ones would be a lil' difficult to ride... Though if you're good at holdin' your breath and can find a Sea Horse sized saddle...

I had a set of aquariums when I was a kid. Always had difficulty keepin' my brothers from crankin' up the tank heaters and cookin' all my tropicals... but I admired their forms and beauty... Some day, it'd be nice to have a couple again... but I'm pretty sure an aquarium don't work out too shiny in a rig rattlin' down the road!

*I never knew Turtles could smile... must be a Disney critter! ;) *

JW ran/stumbled/fell from tank to tank. He was all eyes and gawkin'... the lil' guy truly loved it. The Denver Aquarium is set up inside a lot like a rain forest jungle. There's critter sounds playin', calls and echoes and such. Miss Jillian... it bein' dark and all... those noises and the dark had her some little spooked.

Ended up bein' carried and held close most of the time...

She was ready to cut and run when a fish bigger'n her swam up to the tube through one of the biggest of the tanks.

Those yellow tailed whatevers swam past the glass in a school. To put 'em in perspective...each one is big as a serving platter.

The critter you don't expect to find in an aquarium, but I guess it fits in a rain forest jungle is a Tiger... or three of 'em!

All through the day and into the evening they put on a lil' diving/swimming show for the kids... Actual, genuine, in the flesh Mermaids!

6 comments:

Sounds like the whole family had a great time! $60 for 3 adults and 2 children does not sound excessive to me. But I understand this is not something we can do often and keeping it for special days makes it even more special.

As a diver myself, I am not too fond of aquariums. But what they do now really looks like the real thing and they take a great care of all the animals. Also, it allows people to enjoy and appreciate the beauties of the underwater world, as not everyone has the physical and/or financial means to scuba dive. What you love, you don’t destruct...

All those fishes of many different species, shapes and colors swimming together in harmony are teaching us a good lesson, isn’t it?

Rays are so fun. I have had the privilege to feed (I know... bad... very bad...) big full size rays in 60ft deep open water in the Canary Islands. One of my best diving memories! I am sure the kids will remember it a long time.

Fantastic photos. This must not have been easy with the glass. The smiling turtle is so precious ;)